Tappahannock Historic District · National Register of Historic Places
Tappahannock’s story
344 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1682Tappahannock is settled
TappahannockVA
A town of 1,908, settled in 1682. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,908
−7.7% since 2010
Typical home
$309K
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$47K
median
Median age
44.9
years
Jobs based here
2,060
A job hub
What makes Tappahannock stand out
The 3 things Tappahannock does most differently from other towns.
Tappahannock Historic DistrictHistory
Settled in 1682
2 places on the National Register
Archive photos and papers going back 344 years.
2,060jobs here
Work
2,060 jobs
based in Tappahannock, a regional job hub
13% of working residents work in town.
100 U.S. towns● Tappahannock
Safety
Safer than 12%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade D. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,941 people come to Tappahannock for work
Where Tappahannock’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,060jobs based in Tappahannock
13%of working residents work in town
42 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Tappahannock’s report card
Commute42 miHalf of commuters travel lessSafetyDLess crime than 12% of U.S. townsHealthC−Healthier than 16% of U.S. townsSchoolsC−Beats 17% of VA districtsHousing$309K25% below the VA typical homeClimate89°/28°Summer high · winter low · 12″ snowHazards39/100Low risk of storm & flood damageOutdoors0 miof trails · 0.2% conserved
Now in Tappahannock
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Residents weigh in
Live in Tappahannock? Is a D for safety right?
Your answer becomes a post in Tappahannock’s Town Square.
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Weather
Forecast →86°
Clear
H 91° · L 63°
Local news
All →- PHOTOS: Summer Rodeo at Wind Vineyards in TappahannockRichmond Times-Dispatch · Jul 19
- St. Margaret’s finds new lifeNews on the Neck · Jul 16
- South River vs Great Mills - Boys Varsity Basketball 12/01/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Jul 14
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Tappahannock. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in eight working residents works right in Tappahannock
Most working residents leave Tappahannock for work: only 13% work in town. The top destinations are Richmond (7%), Virginia Beach (3%) and Washington (3%). Half commute less than 42 miles.
13%work in town
Where working residents work
In Tappahannock13%
Richmond7%
Virginia Beach3%
Washington3%
Newport News3%
42 mi
median commute distance
2,060
jobs based in Tappahannock
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 12% of U.S. towns
Tappahannock reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 88% report less.
DSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Tappahannock5
Virginia2.1
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Tappahannock22.3
Virginia13.9
U.S.15.5
12th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
15th
percentile among VA towns
11
violent crimes reported in 2025
49
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Tappahannock beats the Virginia average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
C−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Virginia
3 better12 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Tappahannock | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.5% | 14.5% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.8% | 76.8% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 11.3% | 7.1% |
Vcu Health Tappahannock Hospital
0.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
15th
percentile among VA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Tappahannock’s public schools outperform 17% of Virginia districts
The public schools Tappahannock’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 83% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
C−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tappahannock Elementary | PK–4 | 400 | C− |
| James H. Cary Intermediate | 5–8 | 299 | D |
| Essex High | 9–12 | 393 | C− |
| St. Margaret's School Private | 8–12 | 68 | |
| St. Margarets School Private | 8–12 | 66 | |
| Chesapeake Bay Governor's School | — | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduationAll 6 schools →
Housing
A typical Tappahannock home is worth about $309K
The typical Tappahannock home is worth about $309,000, up 1.7% in a year, 25% below the Virginia typical home.
$309KZillow home value
Typical home value
Tappahannock$309K
Virginia$415K
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Tappahannock has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 28°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–49°
Spring46–68°
Summer67–87°
Fall50–70°
Oct 30
typical first frost
Apr 8
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 39% of U.S. communities.
39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingDrought
9
paid flood claims since 1996
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
0.2% of Tappahannock is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
0.2%conserved
0.2%
conserved · 4 of 1,749 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Marsh Street Park & Pool | — | 3 |
| 2. Rappahannock River Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
About Tappahannock
Town in Virginia, United States
Tappahannock is the oldest town in Essex County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Tappahannock had a population of 2,193. Located on the Rappahannock River, Tappahannock is the county seat of Essex County. Its name comes from an Algonquian language word toppehannock, meaning "cold-water creek". In 1608 English explorer John Smith landed in Tappahannock and fought with the local Rappahannock people. After defeating them, he later made peace.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1682
- Population
- 2,193
- Area
- 2.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 46 ft
- ZIP code
- 22560
- Area code
- 804
More about Tappahannock
Still missing for Tappahannock:archive photosupcoming events